31
Buddy Mills, left, and Deroy Arnold at the site where a citrus grove had
reportedly been planted by Seminoles.
ited the ranch — we had many of the same experiences and
memories of Cow Creek. I’m not sure we were just looking
for tangerine trees that day. Maybe we were trying to connect
to our childhood or even to our departed loved ones.
“We could go anywhere we wanted anytime we wanted,”
Buddy says during the search for tangerine trees. “We
thought it was going to last forever. But nothing lasts forever.
I thank God every day for the memories I’ve got, and as long
as I’m alive that’s my forever, on this property right here.”
“Oh yeah,” Deroy interjects, as if in a church service.
In a way, it was a church service. I know my dad considered
Cow Creek heaven on Earth and if there was one place
his restless spirit might roam around it would be Cow Creek.
SEEING THE ‘HOME PLACE’
Then we head to the home place, or headquarters. As we
arrived I was amazed that, even after nearly 50 years, almost
everything was in practically the same condition: the home
Frank Raulerson built, the old horse barn, the cow pens, the
jeep barns, houses for the ranch hands and the little house
Tommy and Jo Ann’s friends, the Wrights, built.
It was as if it had been preserved in time, with much of it
still in the same white paint and green trim Tommy used to
match his compound in town. The only thing missing was
the house in which the Millses lived that had been destroyed
by fire.
As we walked around, we realized that even small things
hadn’t changed. Even the old cypress tables in the barns were
still there and the same pot used for scalding. I go into the old
barn halfway expecting to see old Matthews in his spot in the
first stall on the left. >>
FREE!
Join us for a
COW CREEK
REUNION
Descendants of the Cow Creek
cowboys gather to recall the
days of an early Florida cattle
ranch and way of life
Saturday, Jan. 14 , 2023
12:30p.m. On the Sunrise Theatre main stage
117 S. Second St., Fort Pierce
At the Fifth Annual
TREASURE COAST
HISTORY FESTIVAL
presented by Indian River Magazine
A celebration of historical events in
St. Lucie, Martin and Indian River counties
OTHER MAIN STAGE
PRESENTATIONS INCLUDE:
9 a.m. — Lincoln Park Academy Centennial
Teachers and students recall 100 years of Greyhound pride
10:30 a.m. — The Sunrise’s Century
Descendants of Sunrise Theatre founder R.N. ‘Pop’ Koblegard
discuss the history of the theater as it marks its 100th anniversary
Sponsored by
®
HISTORICAL EXHIBITIONS • FOOD • RE-ENACTORS
Questions? Call 772.940.9005
or email festival@indianrivermag.com
link
